Transfer Windows To End Early?

The Premier League and the EFL will both be seeking thoughts from member clubs on whether or not to close the summer transfer window before the season kicks off in coming years.

The current window, like many other major European leagues, closes on August 31 which is a full three weeks into the start of the Premier League campaign, and almost a full month into the campaign for sides in the EFL.

The Premier League shareholders meet on September 7 and a vote will be held on the subject then, and the EFL will also be tabling discussions and a vote next month.

‘The EFL board and its clubs have previously expressed the opinion that closing the window in advance of the season commencing would be an improvement on the current position. It will be important that all the consequences of such a decision are fully considered, as the requirements of our clubs are different to those in Europe’s top flight leagues.’

With staggered windows across Europe, for example this season saw the French Ligue 1 window open a week before England, with Spain, Italy and Germany following a week after, European wide change is not on the cards and even if Premier League and EFL clubs support the change, it would have no effect to foreign sides attempting to sign players whilst their window remains open and ours would be shut.

ie Barcelona’s move for Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho would remain legal within the rules, but Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk would know for sure he was not moving to Liverpool or Chelsea. They certainly aren’t the only sides with protracted deals this summer either.

A change could see those clubs against it or even agents potentially launch legal challenges, so it’s far from cut and dry, but many would see the sense in having squad’s and transfer speculation culled before the first kick off.